Cindy Cunningham, from left, sister Tracy Ortiz, widow of popular school crossing guard Leonard Ortiz, David Cunningham (brother-in-law to Leonard, Cindy’s spouse) and Nicolas Jenkins (Leonard’s stepson) urge the public to come forward with any information about a driver who fatally the popular Ortiz on Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018 at Redlands City Hall. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Leonard Ortiz and wife Tracy, pictured, would’ve been married for 19 years in early Dec. He was a popular school crossing guard who was fatally struck by a hit and run driver in Oct. She pleads for the driver to come forward. A Press conference was held at Redlands City Hall, Calif. on Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018. She wears his badge everyday since his death. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Vivian Morfin with daughter, Julia, 8, drops off flowers for beloved crossing guard Leonard Ortiz, 48, known as Bam Bam, at his makeshift memorial at Pennsylvania and Orange Streets in Redlands on Wednesday, October 17, 2018. Ortiz was struck and killed in hit-and-run driver while riding his scooter at Orange Street and Colton Avenue early Tuesday morning. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Crossing guard Leonard Ortiz, helps students and parents safley cross the street as they leave from school, at the corner of Orange St. and Pennsylvania Ave. in Redlands, Ca., Wednesday, June 8, 2016. Ortiz was killed in a hit and run accident on Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2018. (Photo by John Valenzuela/Redlands Daily Facts)

“(His family was) very, very grateful and appreciative to have the case come to resolution and to know what happened,” said Lt. Travis Martinez with the Redlands Police Department.

Police said Arroya was the driver of the green Ford Ranger that hit Leonard Gilberto Ortiz, 48, on Oct. 16.

“Ortiz was riding his moped-type scooter east on Colton Avenue when he was struck by a vehicle that ran the red light heading south on Orange Street,” police said in a statement.

Officials said Ortiz was in full cardiac arrest when police officers and Redlands Fire Department paramedics arrived. He was treated on-scene and transported to Loma Linda University Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

Ortiz was the crossing guard for Lugonia Elementary and Clement Middle School, and went by the nickname “Bam Bam” although to his wife, Tracy Ortiz, he was just Bambs. He worked for a decade escorting children safety across the road before and after school. Tracy Ortiz also works as a crossing guard in the same school district.

Tracy Ortiz on Wednesday said she started dating Leonard in 1997, and was married to him since 1999.

“He was perfect in my eyes,” she said. “He was my soulmate and best friend. I lost that.”

She added that although she and Leonard did not have any children together, her kids referred to him as “Dad” and treated him as if he was their biological father.

Law enforcement used surveillance video along various streets to identify the vehicle involved in the hit-and-run.

A reward of $5,000 was initially set for any information that led to the arrest of the suspect, and that number doubled once a community member got involved and pitched in an additional $5,000.

“The community has been really really good to me and my family,” Tracy Ortiz said Wednesday.

Police held a news conference on Dec. 11 to announce that anyone who gave information leading to the arrest of the person suspected of the hit-and-run was eligible for the $10,000 reward. Ortiz’s family also spoke at the news conference, urging the person who hit and killed him to turn themselves in.

On Tuesday afternoon, police said investigators stopped the Ford Ranger as it was being driven by Arroya. Martinez said Arroya was spotted by Redlands Police officers on Highway 330 in the Highland/San Bernardino area.

Arroya voluntarily came to the Redlands Police Department for a statement and was later arrested on suspicion of felony hit-and-run.

Tracy Ortiz said she felt mixed emotions when she saw Arroya’s mugshot for the first time.

“I don’t hate him, but I do hate him,” she said.

Arroya’s truck was seized, Martinez said, but wouldn’t comment on the condition of the vehicle saying it was part of the ongoing investigation. However, he did state investigators were “very confident” about the arrest.

Arroya was transported to the West Valley Detention center.and has since been released on $50,000 bail, according to San Bernardino County Sheriff’s booking information. A court date has not been set.

“I wanted him to be arraigned and going to prison,” Tracy Ortiz said. “But he bailed out and now he’s free. I just hope the process is fast.”

“This is just devastating to the rest of my family. I just miss him and want him back,” she said.

Beatriz E. Valenzuela is an award-winning journalist who’s covered breaking news in Southern California since 2006 and has been on the front lines of several national and international news events. She’s worked for media outlets serving Southern California readers covering education, local government, entertainment and all things nerd including comic book culture and video games. She’s an amateur obstacle course racer, constant fact-checker, mother of three and lover of all things adorable.